Kevin Hawkins

The controversy isn’t just about technology, water resources, or tax revenue. It’s about transparency, trust, and whether communities have meaningful voice before major development decisions are finalized.

Across the United States, the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure has created an unprecedented demand for data centers. Once viewed as largely invisible aspects of the internet economy, these massive industrial facilities have become increasingly visible features of local landscapes. 

A review of the legislation, lawsuits, and budget disputes that have altered the structure and administration of public safety in St. Louis since 2025.

Beyond slogans and study sessions, students face silent battles with stress, anxiety, and depression—making true awareness, support, and action more critical than ever.

The month of May can arrive on college and university campuses with deception, appearing primarily as warmer weather and more consistent sunshine. Students are gearing up for finals, end of semester projects and for some, there's graduation. The library becomes the headquarters for many students. Fueled by coffee and energy drinks, they work to meet deadlines.

A dynamic mini-conference brought together academic and technological leaders to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming teaching, learning, and workforce readiness across St. Louis institutions of higher education.  

Tensions rise as Mayor Cara Spencer challenges a massive police budget proposal amid falling crime rates, looming layoffs, and the sweeping impact of House Bill 495 on St. Louis governance.

Events across the nation emphasize how FOIA requests empower citizens and journalists to uncover truths that impact communities. 

Consumers across the country are bracing for what has seems like endless increases in costs for basic living expenses. Due to sharp increases in costs for daily necessities such as housing, food, clothing, childcare, utilities and healthcare, students, now more than ever, need access to free and low-cost resources. Among the most fundamental resources integral to student success and quality of life are access to credible news and relevant information about current events, and reliable transportation. 

Born in 1862 to parents who were slaves in Holly Springs, Mississippi, Ida Bell Wells would enter her childhood, a young lady liberated from servitude after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 and the 13th Amendment of 1865 freed slaves in the Confederate states of the South and abolished slavery throughout the United States. 

Throughout several recent issues, the Forum has explored stories related to citizens' rights to access information. We have reported on the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) which allows citizens to access public records of government bodies. 

In this third installment of our series reporting on citizens’ access to information, we’re high lighting The Freedom Center of Missouri (FCMo). The Freedom Center of Missouri is a statewide, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to research, litigation and education in defense of individual liberty and transparent, accountable, constitutionally limited government. Based in Mexico, Missouri, FCMo was founded in 2010 by attorneys Jenifer Zeigler Roland and her partner David Roland. 

This past summer, newly elected Missouri Governor, Mike Kehoe, set legal precedent, further limiting citizens' access to public records in the state of Missouri. 

Here is a question: Would you consider yourself to be someone who cares about freedom and the right to expression? If so, ask yourself some other questions, like why have so many student journalists in recent years been harassed, assaulted, detained, or even threatened with deportation? Why have so many student journalists been suspended or expelled from their educational institutions, maligned on social media and throughout their communities? Why are administrators at schools, colleges, and universities across the United States so adamant about keeping information from being reported by students who are tasked with doing exactly that?

Sunshine Week is a collaborative week of recognition that takes place every year among individuals and groups representative of educators, journalists, government, citizens and community members, as well as the private sector. The purpose is to shine a light on the importance of the people’s access to public records, open government and freedom of information.